‘At work, in the Opera House,’ she said. ‘I’d nipped downstairs for a few minutes to have a look at the Jeremy Gill interview, I can’t remember which day it was.’

‘Wednesday, at noon.’

‘That’s right,’ she said. ‘But it was taking ages to get started, it was all applause and stuff, so I had to go back up to my office and when I was on my way out the door of the dress circle, your man was coming in against me.’

‘Daniel?’

‘Yeah, or the guy I think is him. He said “hi” and smiled and I knew his face but I couldn’t remember from where. I thought no more about it until it dawned on me …’

‘Can you describe him?’

‘I’ll give it a go. He was wearing contacts or he’s had laser done on his eyes because he wasn’t wearing glasses. He’s lost tons of weight and he’s a lot blonder, but that might be the sun, because he was really brown so maybe he’s been living abroad.’

‘Can you remember what he was wearing?’

‘No, sorry.’

‘Can you think of anything else?’

‘Not really,’ she said. ‘It was the smile that brought him back to me. He was always so pleasant, always joking and laughing. That’s what made me remember.’

‘That’s great, Marie. And if you think of anything more at all, will you text me?’

‘Okay,’ she said. ‘But I probably won’t. I’m not even sure it was him.’

I was trying to sort through the repercussions of what Marie had said when Sadie veered left into the Garda station car park, drove at speed to the far end and came to a sudden stop just before she hit the wall.

‘Come ‘on,’ she said. ‘Come on, wouldya? You know, for the one who was all talk on the way up you’re awful reluctant to get out of the car. Why so?’

‘That last phone call. I …’

‘Get your arse out of the car, Fitzpatrick.’

‘Sadie, I just found out … Oh, what the hell, I suppose it can wait.’

‘O’Riordan and Fitzpatrick to see DI Lenihan,’ Sadie said at the public office window.

‘I’ll buzz yiz straight in. Youse are to go to Interview Room 3.’

‘Interview room?’ I said to Sadie. ‘That doesn’t sound very promising.’

‘You’re a member of the public, Finn. Where else is he going to see you? The Shelbourne Hotel? Don’t be getting above yourself, now.’

‘Being with you is a real confidence booster, O’Riordan.’

Sadie laughed.

‘Don’t want you getting a big head is all.’

‘I won’t make the mistake of offering tea,’ Lenihan said as we walked into Interview Room 3. ‘I know it’s not up to Fitzpatrick’s high standards. Anyway, we’ve no time for pleasantries.’